CREATION OF THE FLORIDA ACADEMY LEAGUE

MIAMI, FL. (March 1, 2019)-Dear Florida youth soccer members, earlier this season USSDA decided to no longer host and manage the U12 age group. Although they have acknowledged U12 programs are an integral part of player development, they have entrusted youth soccer programs with the responsibility of creating environments to accelerate the development of players in this early stage. In order to achieve this, Florida USSDA programs have come together to create the Florida Academy League. Initially the league will host the current USSDA U12 programs in an intrastate competition. The main focus is to maintain the standards and guidelines of the current USSDA U12 academy league while improving the schedule. This will be accomplished by playing home and away matches with each club in the league. The USSDA clubs in the league are the following: Chargers, GPS Florida West, Florida Rush, Inter Miami CF, Jacksonville Armada, Kendall SC, Orland City Youth Soccer, Palm Beach Predators, PSG Plantation FC, South Florida Football Academy, Tampa Bay Rowdies, Wellington FC, West Florida Flames, and Weston FC. Through this initiative, Florida USSDA clubs ensure a challenging level of competition for the U12 academies as well as providing the flexibility to continue to improve the league as it moves forward. In the past five years, Florida USSDA clubs have promoted 73 players to professional clubs and over 200 players to top Universities. USSDA clubs have become the best pathway for player development and promotion in the state of Florida. Florida Academy League director of operations, Mr. Sean Carey states “Zone 1 grassroots is the foundation of a successful youth academy. We are confident that the creation of the Florida Academy League will provide the most challenging and organized competitive environment for U12 players in Florida.”